5th June 2023 – (Hong Kong) The suspect in the fatal stabbing of two women at the Plaza Hollywood in Diamond Hill last Friday appeared in the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts today, where he was charged with two counts of murder. The accused was brought to court by law enforcement officials at around 9am this morning, with armed personnel stationed outside the courthouse. The case has been adjourned until 19th June to allow for a psychiatric evaluation, and the suspect will remain in custody until then.
The defendant, dressed in grey and with a shaven head, was escorted by four police officers to appear in court for questioning, represented by duty lawyer. The masked defendant stood in the dock without any obvious facial expressions, but his hands hanging by his waist were clenched into fists, and he occasionally took deep breaths. After the clerk read out the details of the charges, the defendant calmly said, “Understood.”
The victims, Fong Hiu-tung (26) and Lau Kai-hei (22), were attacked with a knife by the man on the day of the incident and were rushed to United Christian Hospital for treatment. Unfortunately, they were pronounced dead at 6.06pm and 6.47pm, respectively, on the same day. The suspect, surnamed Szeto (39), was arrested on the scene by police officers.
It is understood that the two women were close friends, while the suspect was unemployed and living on welfare. He had been suffering from paranoid schizophrenia for several years and required regular medical supervision. Prior to the attack, the suspect had purchased a knife from a shop on the second floor of the mall and had wandered around for several minutes before launching his attack on the third floor.
The incident has shocked and saddened the Hong Kong community, with many calling for greater awareness and support for mental health issues.